Saudi dissident disappearance may be fault of ‘rogue killers’ claims Trump

Donald Trump is sending the US Secretary of State to Saudi arabia ‘immediately’ to discuss the fate of a missing journalist – and says ‘rogue killers’ could be behind the disappearance.

The extraordinary claim came amid international outcry over the vanishing of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government.

Mr Khashoggi was last seen walking into the Gulf state’s consulate in Turkey on october 2 to sort out paperwork for his upcoming marriage. Turkish sources believe the journalist was tortured, killed and dismembered once inside.

Mr Trump yesterday confirmed he had spoken to Saudi leader King Salman on the phone, who denied knowing what had happened to Mr Khashoggi.

He tweeted: ‘Just spoke to the King of Saudi arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi arabian citizen”.

‘He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!’ Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, is expected to visit Turkey afterwards.

Mr Trump previously threatened ‘severe punishment’ if it was proven that Mr Khashoggi was killed in the consulate.

after the call with King Salman, Mr Trump told reporters the Saudi leader’s denial was ‘very, very strong’.

He added: ‘It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?’

He provided no evidence to back his comment. It came as a Saudi-Turkish team last night went to the consulate to investigate. Cleaners were also seen entering the building hours ahead of their arrival.

Saudi arabia has denied all involvement and King Salman ordered an internal investigation into the case.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed his support for an investigation during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday. He said: ‘The UK fully supports the Turkish investigation into the incident. We have been urging Saudi arabia to co-operate fully.

‘There remain questions about the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi that only Saudi arabia can answer.’

Mr Khashoggi was living in self-imposed exile in the US and writing for the Washington Post before he vanished. The Saudi economy has taken a hit from the affair, with its currency, the riyal, falling to a two-year low. Its stock market tumbled seven per cent on Sunday, and business leaders including Sir Richard Branson have pulled out of an upcoming investment forum nicknamed ‘Davos in the Desert’.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose by 1.8 per cent after Saudi arabia issued a veiled threat to cut production if the US imposes sanctions.